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18:00-01

1-News-Head

On NEWS 7 at SIX:
Don Beyer makes his political intentions official, the feds balk at putting on
witnesses against Roanoke's crime family...
(----------------)
VO-NAT

And they're not very lady-like, if they've infested YOUR house. We'll tell
you what you can do if they're bugging you....
(----------------)

Sports-Head
ANCHOR=Mike

Tonight in sports, time to pump up the volume on March Madness college hoops
takes over.
We'll hear from the UVa men's and women's teams,
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng

Plus, check in with the Lady Flames from Liberty who are making their first
ever appearance in the big dance.
(-------------)
WX-Head
TALENT=Robin
SS=None

Lots of sun today, more on the way tomorrow and Wednesday. But the March
winds will blow. That story and WeatherSchool just ahead.

Beyer

ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-4
GRAPHIC=Don Beyer

Donald Sternhoff Beyer, Junior wants to be Virginia's "education" governor.
Today, as the 46- year old Democrat officially kicked off his campaign,
questions about how he'd pay for his ambitious plans were already the first
lesson of the campaign.
Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/State Microwave

Ellen Qualls is in Richmond, where she picked up one leg of Beyer's
fly-around tour.
Live=Ellen Full/Microwave
SUPER=@Ellen1;
SUPER=05-Richmond;

Keith, voters have had eight years to get to know their lieutenant governor.
So it was NO surprise that on the day that's supposed to be about his vision
for the future, we got right down to specifics.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It is with
SUPER=01-Don Beyer/(D) Candidate for Governor; :00
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :13
SUPER=01-Bob Holsworth/VCU Political Analyst; 1:01
SUPER=03-Richmond; 1:12
RUNS=1:39
OUT Q=pledge either.

((sot 12:06:04
((IT IS WITH PRIDE AND HUMILITY, WITH DETERMINATION AND FAITH, THAT I ANNOUNCE
MY CANDIDACY FOR GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.))
runs=:08

And with a great deal of fanfare.
Beyer started his four city kick-off tour in Roanoke.
He had the kind of enthusiastic supporters a gubernatorial candidate can
draw.
But he wants to be something different from the lawyers who've governed
Virginia for four decades.
SOT TAPE ONE 12:05:11
((I BELIEVE I'LL BE THE FIRST CERTIFIED AUTO MECHANIC TO LEAD THIS STATE.))
RUNS=:04

He is, after all, the heir to his father's Don Beyer Volvo... where he
worked his way up from the garage.
SOT TAPE ONE 12:05:34
((I BELIEVE VIRGINIA NEEDS AN EDUCATION GOVERNOR.))
RUNS=:03

He sets himself in opposition to George Allen and his actual opponent Jim
Gilmore, who, he says...
sot 12:18:08 T2
((SUED TO BLOCK CLEAN WATER. SUED TO BLOCK VOTER REGISTRATION. TRIED TO BLOCK
GOALS 2000. ON ISSUE AFTER ISSUE, THEY HAVE CHOSEN THE MORE EXTREME
IDEOLOGICAL TACT. AND I THINK THAT'S NOT WHERE VIRGINIA IS. AND THAT'S
CERTAINLY NOT HOW I WANT TO LEAD.))
runs=:16

sot 12:24:06
((BOB HOLSWORTH/VCU POLITICAL ANALYST: I THINK DON BEYER'S AN ATTRACTIVE
CANDIDATE IN A LOT OF WAYS. I THINK HIS PERSONALITY, HIS AFFABILITY, HIS
INTELLIGENCE ALL ARE GOING TO WORK VERY WELL IN THIS CAMPAIGN.))
runs=:10

What would NOT be attractive to many voters is a tax increase to pay for
bold education plans.
sot t2 12:14:46
((IT'S TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THAT. I THINK THAT THE THINGS I WANT TO
DO, THE THINGS I OUTLINED IN THE SPEECH THIS MORNING DO NOT REQUIRE A TAX
INCREASE.))
runs=:10

But he won't close the door.
SOT TAPE ONE 12:16:54 T2
((I THINK TO TAKE A NO NEW TAX PLEDGE IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE POLITICAL GIMMICK.))
OUT Q=05

But take note, Republican Jim Gilmore has NOT taken that NO tax increase
pledge either.))
Live=Ellen Full/State Microwave
SUPER=05-Richmond;

Don Beyer says the Allen administration's own experts project two BILLION
dollars in natural growth in state revenues over the next four years.
Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/State Microwave

Beyer says that's more than enough to pay for an increase in teacher pay and
shrink class sizes.

Crouch

ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-110
GRAPHIC=Joyce Crouch

One person who "won't" be returning to Richmond next year is Lynchburg
delegate Joyce Crouch.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg

Crouch has represented the 22nd district since 1989, after taking over for
her husband, Joe, who was a delegate for twelve years.
Crouch says the job has become too time- consuming and she's retiring to be
with her family.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:08:48
IN Q=I have a
((DEL. JOYCE CROUCH/R- LYNCHBURG: I HAVE A WONDERFUL FAMILY THAT HAVE STOOD
BEHIND ME AND BESIDE ME AS THEY DID WITH JOE AND I BOTH, AND THEY'VE ALWAYS
BEEN THERE FOR ME FOR THE TWENTY YEARS. AND I JUST AT THIS POINT WANT TO HAVE A
LITTLE MORE QUALITY TIME WITH THEM.))
SUPER=01-Del. Joyce Crouch/(R) Lynchburg; :00
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=time with them.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Crouch is the third female delegate to retire this year.
Two others, including caucus leader Gladys Keating, also may step down.
(----------------)

Abed

ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=KHU
TAPE#97-2
GRAPHIC=Joseph Abed

Federal prosecutors are refusing to put on witnesses in the racketeering
case against Joe Abed and his "organized crime" family.
U-S Magistrate Glen Conrad last week implied he might be inclined to
release Abed and his son, unless the government presents testimony from two or
three of its "best witnesses."
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Week

In its notice to the court declining to put on witnesses at this stage in
the proceedings, the government says Joe Abed lied last week in court under
oath.
A key element of the case involves extortion, threats, even murder.
The government points to ten earlier cases against Abed family members that
were dismissed in state court, because witnesses were intimidated.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=Joseph Abed

"The very witnesses whose testimony would be most compelling," says the U-S
Attorney, are those people who are most at risk in this case.
A hearing is set Wednesday afternoon.
Tease#1
HARD MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=NONE

Still to come on News 7 at Six--
some Roanoke County residents say the state has misled them about plans to
straighten a dangerous stretch of highway.
(---------------)
VO-NAT

School-Board

ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=six
WRITER=jda
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=Education

Roanoke City Council may have trouble filling three seats on the school
board, but it won't be for a lack of candidates.
Eleven people filed applications with the city clerk's office before this
afternoon's deadline.
School Board Chairman Marsha Ellison is seeking reappointment, but Marilyn
Curtis isn't eligible for another term, and John Saunders is leaving the area.
City Council will choose among the candidates on May 5th.

A two- day conference at the Hotel Roanoke is bringing together educators
from across the state.
Coordinators say this event is the first of its kind in Virginia... and
possibly the country.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT9:10:24
IN Q=We have
((JOY COLBERT/VIRGINIA TECH PROFESSOR: WE HAVE WORKSHOPS WITH A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT FORMATS. SOME ARE HANDS- ON WORKSHOPS. OTHERS ARE MORE THEORETICAL
EXPLORATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH. BUT OUR EFFORT IS TO CONNECT THE
CLASSROOM TEACHERS WITH RESEARCHERS. ))
SUPER=01-Joy Colbert/Virginia Tech Professor;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=with researchers
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-File Tape;

One of those workshops dealt with ways kids can use a computer, and exercise
more than their minds.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9:26:51
IN Q=Essentially
((GEORGE GRAHAM/VIRGINIA TECH PROFESSOR: ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS
EXPLORING HOW WE CAN USE THE INTERNET TO HELP YOUNGSTERS BECOME MORE PHYSICALLY
ACTIVE AND HEALTHY... AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR BODIES. ))
SUPER=01-George Graham/Virginia Tech Professor;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=their bodies
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=Education

About 300 teachers are participating in the 2- day conference.
Virginia Tech officials say they hope to expand the event next year.

Route-221

Some Roanoke County residents don't think VDOT's been STRAIGHT with them
when it comes to removing some dangerous curves on Route 221.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

The area is question is just east of Cotton Hill Road.
VDOT is looking at bypassing that section entirely... and building a
straighter stretch of black top.
Some residents didn't event think that was an option.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:53:06
IN Q=All of
((JOE KEPHART/CONCERNED RESIDENT: ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GET WIND THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO BUILD 2 BRIDGES ACROSS AND BACK OVER TO THE ORIGINAL SITE OF THE
CREEK. THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT ANY OF OUR KNOWLEDGE. THIS ISN'T WHAT WE VOTED FOR
IT'S NOT WHAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECOMMENDED. ))
SUPER=01-Joe Kephart/Concerned Resident;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=recommended
(----------------)
VO-NAT

VDOT officials say they are within their rights to explore this alternative
plan.
But they say it could take months to figure out if its even feasible.
(----------------)

Rail-Merger

ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-3
GRAPHIC=Rail Merger

A four month battle of railroad titans ended late last week when Conrail
agreed to be taken over by Richmond based C-S-X.
Norfolk Southern, a large employer in our area that also bid on Conrail,
will get a large chunk of the northeastern railroad.
Len Besthoff is keeping track of the deal's highlights.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Now that
SUPER=@File; :00
SUPER=01-George Brammer/A. G. Edwards Stockbroker; :16
SUPER=@Len1; :44
RUNS=1:01
OUT Q=LB, News-7.
((
Now that the bidding war is over, there are some interesting numbers that
provide food for thought.
For starters, how about FOUR- BILLION...as in dollars....that's what Norfolk
Southern will reportedly dish out for the Conrail routes it receives.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:31:09
IN Q=It gives
((GEORGE BRAMMER/STOCKBROKER A.G. EDWARDS: IT GIVES THEM NEW MARKETS. NORFOLK
SOUTHERN'S GONNA GET WHAT THEY'VE WANTED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND IT SEEMS TO
BE AT A PRICE THEY CAN LIVE WITH.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=live with.

Another number to remember is 60, as in 60- percent.
That's how much Conrail shares have gone up in price since the original deal
it had with C-S-X was announced last year.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:38:50
IN Q=I'd
((SABINA BARLOW: I'D LIKE TO HAVE GOTTEN A PIECE OF THE ACTION.))
RUNS=:02
OUT Q=the action.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:39:22
IN Q=I'd like to have
((JANE CANNING: I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LION'S SHARE OF IT, IT'D BE NICE. But it
didn't happen? CANNING: NO IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. ))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=didn't happen.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:04:24
IN Q=One number
(( A number everyone's still wondering about is how many Conrail employees
could lose their jobs, now that the railroad is being carved up by two Virginia
competitors.
Pennsylvanians in powerful posts are keeping their eye on this, because if
their hometown railroad takes too big a hit, they may blow the whistle on the
deal.
Len Besthoff, News-7. ))
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=LB, News-7.))

Ladybugs

ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=tal
TAPE#97-8
GRAPHIC=None

Contrary to rumor, Virginia Tech does NOT have a ladybug research project
gone haywire.
But the insects are infesting many homes throughout Virginia.
Tracy Altizer has some pest- control tips.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=During the winter
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :00
SUPER=07-Curt Laub; :12
SUPER=01-Eric Day/VT Insect I.D. Lab; :42
SUPER=@Tracy2; 1:13
RUNS=1:23
OUT Q=Altizer, News 7.
(( During the winter, as Curt Laub was checking out the insulation in his
newly- built home, he found something that might make most homeowners shudder,
Japanese ladybeetles by the thousands.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:58:13
((CURT LAUB: AND PEELING BACK SOME OF THE INSULATION I FOUND CLUSTERS OF THEM,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY DO IS CLUSTER TOGETHER IN COLD WEATHER. AND NOW TODAY
I GUESS YOU CAN SEE, A WARM DAY AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
NOW. ))
RUNS=:13

The ladybugs don't bother Laub, he's an entomologist, insects are his
business.
But Virginia Tech's Insect Identification Lab has been flooded with calls
from people who are bothered.
The experts say the best defense against the ladybugs is a vacuum cleaner.
Or you can take steps to keep them out to begin with.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:20:31
((ERIC DAY/VT INSECT I.D. LAB MANAGER: TRY TO WINTERIZE YOUR HOUSE. TRY TO SEAL
UP ALL THE CRACKS AND CREVICES. ALL THE PLACES THAT COLD AIR CAN GET INTO YOUR
HOUSE ARE ALSO THE PLACES THAT LADYBEETLES GET IN TOO. ))
RUNS=:08

The U.S. Department of Agriculture first introduced the ladybugs in North
Carolina to aid fruit production, the bugs eat tree-damaging aphids.
They spread across the nation on their own, showing up in Virginia in 1993.
Despite the annoyance, they present no dangers.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1421:18
((THEY DON'T CARRY ANY DISEASE, THEY MAY GIVE JUST A TINY LITTLE NIP IF YOU
HAPPEN TO PICK UP ONE WRONG, BUT THEY REALLY ARE VERY MUCH HARMLESS. ))
RUNS=:07

The ladybugs usually appear in March, while trying to get outside. Many die
from the dry indoor air before they ever reach the trees.
Tracy Altizer, News 7.))

Sports Tease

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#sports tease
GRAPHIC=NONE

Coming your way tonight on News 7 Sports, March Madness has begun.
I'll have a rundown of the games coming up this week on WDBJ, plus we'll
check in with the Liberty who are dancing for the first time.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#

And Steve Mason joins us with a report from Charlottesville as Virginia men's
and women's teams ready themselves for first round play.
(-------------)

S-UVa

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#vb97-1
GRAPHIC=FINAL FOUR

Both the Virginia men's and women's basketball teams open NCAA tournament
play in the Wild West this year.
Steve Mason reports both teams met with media members this afternoon to talk
about their dancing partners.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=FIRST AUDIO
SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00
SUPER=01-Jeff Jones/UVa Head Coach; :11
SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC/Last Friday; :26
SUPER=01-Harold Deane/UVa Point Guard; 1:05
SUPER=@steve1; 1:10
SUPER=01-Debbie Ryan/UVa Women's Head Coach; 1:28
RUNS=1:47
OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."
(-------------)

S-WDBJ

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=5PM
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=FINAL FOUR

Your Hometown station is the ticket for the NCAA men's tournament as our
coverage begins this Thursday afternoon at 12:15.
(-------------)
PINNACLE BOARD
Kansas Jayhawks takes on Jackson State in the opening game of the tournament
from Memphis.
We'll complete the afternoon session as Purdue tangles with A-10 member
Rhode Island at 2:40.
(-------------)
pinnacle board
The night session should draw crowd at 7:30 with North Carolina and Fairfield
hooking up from Winston-Salem.
Then at 10:30 it's Virginia and Iowa hooking up out in Salt lake City.
Also, you will get some bonus converge Thursday night of the Maryland -
College of Charleston game in Memphis.
(-------------)
CHYRON
Then on Friday at 12:15 it's the Clemson Tigers battling Miami of Ohio from
Kansas City.
The final game of the afternoon has Conference USA member UNC-Charlotte
playing Georgetown from out in Tuscon.
(-------------)
pinnacle board
Then at 7:30 Friday night, Wake Forest hooks up with St. Mary's of
California.
And the night session ends with the Duke Blue Devils taking no the Racers of
Murray State from the Charlotte Coliseum.
Also, Friday night, some bonus coverage of the Old Dominion - New Mexico game
from Pittsburgh.
(-------------)

S-Liberty

ANCHOR=mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=twe
TAPE#-BB97-4
GRAPHIC=liberty

The Madness begins this week for the Liberty women as well, and it's at a
fever pitch in Lynchburg.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/This Afternoon;

The Liberty Ladies donned their dancing shoes this afternoon in preparation
for Friday night's Mideast Regional matchup with top seeded Old Dominion in
Norfolk.
Rick Reeves's club was a mere 5 and 22 last season, but turned the tables
with a 22 and 7 season, and Big South tournament championship.
Playing the 29 and 1 Monarchs in their kingdom should present a challenge.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="I think we're...
((RICK REEVES/LADY FLAMES HEAD COACH:))
SUPER=01-Rick Reeves/Lady Flames Head Coach;
RUNS=:19
OUT Q=...challenge for us."
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Liberty and ODU will take the court after the Purdue/Maryland matchup
Friday night.
(-------------)

S-Athey

The Roanoke College women were eliminated from the NCAA division three
championship in the first round.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Salem; :00

But senior Amy Athey is still very much in the hunt for postseason honors.
The ODAC player of the year, is a finalist for Kodak all-american honors.
The former Cave Spring star has a 1-in 4 chance of making it, as the list
will be chopped down from 40 to 10 next Thursday.
(-------------)

S-Express

The Roanoke Express picked up three wins at home last week, and tonight they
hope to pick up even more ground in the standings.
The Express is in Richmond tonight skating against the Renegades, a team that
is just 2 point ahead of Roanoke.
Steve Mason is at the coliseum and he'll have highlights and postgame for you
tonight at 11.
Wx-Tape
SUPER=305-64/42/77/1990/9/1996;
SUPER=306-59/24/26/NW-9mph/29.98s/6:37am/6:23pm;

HSMM

After 50-years of architectural designs, employees of the Roanoke firm Hayes,
Seay, Mattern and Mattern are sure they'll be around for 50 more.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

So sure they buried a time capsule today to be opened in the year
two-thousand-47.
In it they placed a computer disk with plans for current projects,
memorabilia from the past, and some everyday items-- like a mechanical pencil,
a calculator, and "post-it" notes.
Employees buried the capsule in celebration of the firm's 50-year
anniversary.
Since 19-47 they've grown from four founders to 400 employees working in ten
offices and five states.
(----------------)
Promo
ANCHOR=Keith
(toss to Jean)
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=
TAPE#None

A lot of people have noticed there's something new in the nighttime sky.
Double Boxes=Keith and Jean/Newsroom

Jean Jadhon is here to tell us more about this cosmic experience.
Live=Jean Full/Newsroom
SUPER=@Jean1;

Keith, it's the brightest comet to pass earth, and it will be easily visible
with the naked eye for the next month or so.
We'll talk to Virginia Tech astronomers about when and where to look for the
Hale-Bopp Comet.
Join us for that, plus the latest news, weather and sports tonight on News
7 at 11. Keith?
Talent=Keith

And for the region's first TEN O'clock newscast,
Take Prime Time Board Fullscreen
watch News-7 Prime Time
on W-E-F-C.
It's on Channel 38 "over the air," and on a lot of cable systems--we're on
Cable Channel ten in Blacksburg and Montgomery County, for example.
And don't forget to tune in to News 7 at 11, right here on W-D-B-J.
Talent=Keith